Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
Concerning the converts mistaking his case for want of such a submission unto Gods exercising of him, as be would have.
SOme true converts, sometime esteem themselves guilty of rebellion against God, because they cannot submit themselves in bodily or spiritual chastisements unto Gods dispensation, as they would. The pretended reasons of their hard sentence against themselves, are three, 1. because they find in themselves fretting and murmuring against the Lords dealing with them. 2. They find themselves far from humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God. 3. Because they find in themselves still unquietnesse after they set themselves to submit; which endeavour to submit, they conceive should have brought forth quietnesse of mind, if it had been real, and sincere submission indeed. And these thought…, when they have weight, make way for many suggestions of Sathan, and do draw on more and more unquietnesse and guiltinesse withall.
For remedy whereof, 1. let it be considered, that in this exercise a difference must be put between Gods part, the flesh, or corrupt natures part, the new creatures part, and Sathans part.
As for Gods part, by his chastisements and exercising of his child, he brings to light the perversenesse of corrupt nature in his child, to humble him and drive him to Christ. The part of flesh or corrupt nature, is alwayes to strive against the work of grace and the new creature, and it cannot be submissive unto God, Gal. 5. 7. but must be mortified, Rom. 8. 7. The part of the new creature, is not to consent to the fretting and murmuring of the flesh, but to oppose it, to yield unto Gods dispensation, and to be grieved for the power of corrupt nature, and therefore not the new creature but corrupt nature should be condemned. Sathans part is, still to take advantage of every hard exercise, and to suggest wrong thoughts of God and his work, in the child of God.
Secondly, let a difference be made between the con…lict of corrupt nature against the work of grace, and the victory of the corrupt nature; for, corrupt nature may fight, and not prevail, but be keeped from reigning in a man, how much soever it rage.
Thirdly, let a difference be made between the victory of corrupt nature in some conflicts, and its victory in the war; for, corrupt nature may prevail in sundry conflicts, and yet loss its labour in the close of the war, wherein grace is made perfectly victorious through Christ, in hope whereof, the child of God must renew the combat against nature and not faint.
Fourthly, let a difference be put between submission of mind and quietnesse in mind. Submission may be sincere, when pain of body maketh the convert to cry, when affliction maketh him a man of sorrow and grief; yea, when corrupt nature doth fret and murmur, provided that the convert control and condemn his corrupt nature, and suffer it not to break forth in words of impatiency, but prayeth to God to help him to bear the burthen and endure his exercise with patience.
Fifthly, let a difference be put between the sinfulnesse of corrupt nature and the trouble which doth stir it up, and the sorrow which the convert hath in the observation of both; for, the sin is the work of the flesh and Sathan, the trouble and affliction is the work of God, the sorrow for sin felt, is the work of Gods Spirit also; and the sorrow for pain, loss, shame, or any sort of trouble, is moderat and sanctified when the convert offereth himself willing to endure it, so long as God shall be pleased to continue it. Last of all, let it be considered, that a wrestled-for submission, pleaseeth God no lesse, then a victorious submission doth please the convert, because in wrestling against corrupt nature, the convert testif…eth his will to please God, his glorifying of Gods wisdom, justice, power and love, how ever the Lord deal with him. After which wrestling, the Lord doth give submission victorious, and quietnesse with it.